The soft melody of a flute drifted through the maple trees, light and mournful, like the sigh of a lost soul.
Eli Winters approached quietly and smiled at the young man seated beneath the maple. "That's a fine tune," he said. "But it sounds too sorrowful for someone your age."
The boy turned sharply, startled by the sudden voice. His eyes widened when he saw a group of strangers standing behind the familiar figure of Uncle An, the security officer of Maple Village.
Among the group stood a tall, sunlit young man with an easy smile the one who had spoken.
"Sorry," the boy said quickly, standing up and bowing politely. "I didn't mean to disturb anyone."
"Not at all," Eli replied, waving his hand. "You play beautifully. Just… a little heavy on the grief. Someone as young as you shouldn't have to carry such sadness."
The boy lowered his head, his voice soft. "I was thinking of my mother."
The mood shifted. For a moment, everyone fell silent. Even Filina and Big Pan looked down, unsure what to say.
Eli blinked thoughtfully. For all the chaos and camaraderie aboard the Silver Dragon, he realized most of his crew didn't even have mothers to remember.
Before anyone could respond, the boy suddenly bowed again. "I'm sorry, everyone. I have something to do." And without another word, he hurried off.
They watched his figure disappear down the slope.
"What a strange kid," Big Pan muttered.
Uncle An sighed, his expression distant. "He's not strange… just a poor soul. That boy's name is Cree."
Eli turned to him with quiet curiosity. "Cree? Can you tell us more about him?"
Uncle An hesitated, the weight of old memories flickering across his weathered face. Then he began to speak, his voice low and heavy with grief.
Cree's father was a man named Bea, once one of Maple Village's strongest fighters. From a young age, Bea had dreamed of the sea. He trained under old sailors, learned to fight, and became strong. When he grew older, he married and had a son Cree.
But the sea never left his heart.
After his parents passed away, Bea could no longer resist the call. He gathered a group of men and formed a pirate crew. At the time, Cree was only four years old.
Years passed. The sea swallowed Bea, and the village slowly forgot him. Then, six years later, on what should have been a peaceful morning, the horizon darkened with sails.
Bea had returned at the head of a ruthless pirate crew.
They stormed Maple Village like wild beasts, burning houses, destroying homes, and dragging away the weak and the beautiful. The once-quiet fishing village turned into a battlefield.
The villagers fought back bravely. Fishermen took up harpoons, farmers raised hoes, and mothers shielded their children. But against hardened pirates, their courage wasn't enough. Bodies fell. Blood ran through the streets.
Among the fallen was Alei's father, who died defending his family. Alei's mother gentle, kind, beloved by all was taken captive.
The young Alei, no older than ten, snatched up a weapon and charged at the pirates in desperation. But he was just a child. They beat him down, shattering his leg and nearly taking his life. Still, he clung to his mother, trying to protect her until the end.
She was killed before his eyes.
The pirates laughed as they left him bleeding on the ground.
Just when Maple Village seemed doomed, a figure returned Hoshino, once a wanderer of the seas, now bearing the power of a Devil Fruit. With his newfound strength, he turned the tide.
Like a storm, Hoshino struck the pirates down one by one. Bea and his crew were routed, forced to flee into the ocean.
But victory came too late. The village lay in ruins homes burned, families broken, lives shattered.
Bea escaped, but his wife and son remained behind. And to the grief-stricken villagers, the sight of Bea's family was an open wound.
That night, driven by rage and sorrow, the villagers gathered with torches and stormed Cree's home. They shouted curses, hurled stones, and set the house ablaze.
Cree and his mother barely escaped saved only by Hoshino, who intervened just in time and forbade anyone from harming them again.
But hatred doesn't vanish overnight. From that day on, the mother and son lived as outcasts. Whispers followed them wherever they went. Stores refused to serve them. Children threw mud at Cree in the streets.
Under that suffocating weight, his mother fell ill. No medicine could save her. She died quietly, leaving behind a boy who had already lost everything.
After her death, the villagers' anger faded into shame. They stopped harassing Cree but kept their distance.
Only Hoshino showed kindness. He taught Cree how to fish, farm, and survive and in time, Cree began helping others. Slowly, bit by bit, the village started to accept him again.
When Uncle An finished speaking, silence lingered over the group.
Big Pan clenched his fists, his eyes dark with anger. "That Bea is no man. He's a monster."
Filina nodded furiously. "To think he'd destroy his own home… just unforgivable."
Eli looked thoughtful. "This Hoshino he's your captain, isn't he?"
Uncle An smiled faintly. "Yes. After driving Bea away, Captain Hoshino stayed to protect us. He formed our security squad. Thanks to him, Maple Village no longer fears pirates."
Eli smiled. "A strong and honorable man, then."
They continued walking through the village as An introduced them to its sights rebuilt homes, fishing docks, and young villagers waving shyly at the newcomers.
When they reached the town square, they saw Cree again. He was helping an elderly man lift a crate of fish, his thin arms trembling with effort, sweat beading on his forehead.
Big Pan stepped forward, grinning. "You've got guts, kid."
Cree froze for a second, then smiled awkwardly. "Thanks." He turned back to his work, refusing to stop.
Before Eli could say more, a commotion erupted near the docks.
"Pirates! A pirate ship is approaching!" someone shouted.
Everyone turned. A black-sailed ship was gliding into the harbor, its flag marked with a grinning skull.
"Could it be… Bea?" a villager gasped.
Panic swept through the crowd. The security squad rushed to arms, forming a defensive line.
Eli and his crew exchanged glances calm, but alert. Fate, it seemed, had a twisted sense of timing.
The ship docked roughly. Dozens of pirates stormed ashore, weapons gleaming. At their head stood a towering man with a cruel grin and a patch over one eye.
"Hand over your treasures," the one-eyed brute roared. "Or we'll burn this place to ashes!"
Behind him, another man stepped off the ship older, scarred, but unmistakable.
"Bea," Uncle An hissed.
Captain Hoshino appeared, his eyes burning with fury. "You dare come back, traitor?"
Bea smirked. "Why wouldn't I? I came to finish what I started."
"Today," he sneered, "you die, Hoshino."
The one-eyed pirate cracked his knuckles. "So you're the Devil Fruit user. Let's see if you're worth the rumor."
Before anyone could react, he lunged impossibly fast. Hoshino barely had time to raise his arms before the punch hit, sending him staggering backward.
"Not bad," the brute laughed, rushing forward again.
Hoshino's expression hardened. He drew upon his Devil Fruit power, his body shifting and twisting as sharp quills erupted from his skin. In seconds, he transformed into a massive humanoid porcupine.
The ground quaked as the two clashed, fists meeting with explosive force.
But while Hoshino fought the brute, Bea's eyes turned toward the villagers. His grin widened.
"Kill them all," he roared. "Tonight, we celebrate in blood!"
His pirates screamed in delight and charged.
Hoshino's heart pounded in rage, but he couldn't break free from the fight. "Bea, you madman!" he shouted. "Leave them out of this!"
Bea only laughed. "Watch, Hoshino! Watch your precious village burn again!"
He raised his weapon and rushed forward only to stop short.
A small figure stood in his way.
Bea froze, his eyes narrowing. That face… those eyes…
"Cree?" he muttered. "You pathetic little fool…"
The boy didn't move. His hands trembled, but his voice was steady. "You won't touch this village again."
For the first time in years, the monster known as Bea hesitated.
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